



Vol. XIX, Second Series. 



ROCHESTER, N. Y., MAY, 1858. 



No. 5. 



FBEMITTM 7ABM OF THE EMPIRE STATE. 



The "New York State Agricultural Society, at its 

 last annual meeting, awarded the first Premium of 

 $50 for the best grain farm in the State to Eobeet 

 J. SwAx, of Rose Hill, near Geneva, N. Y. The 

 report of the yisiting committee has not yet been 

 published, but a recent visit to this magnificent 

 farm enables us to allude to some of the principal 

 features in its management. 



The farm contains 344 acres, beautifully located 

 on the banks of Seneca lake, about three miles 

 from Geneva. The soil is a clayey loam, forming a 

 part of the ridge which extends from the Seneca 

 river t« the southern borders of the cotmty. The 

 summit of this ridge abounds in springs, which 

 render the lower land wet and unproductive. — 

 When, seven years ago, Mr. Swan purchased this 

 farm, the erop of wheat was so poor that a portion 

 of it was plowed under in the spring, and that 

 which was left averaged only five bushels per acre. 



Mr. Swan sowed only six acres of wheat the 

 next year, being determined to sow only as much 

 land as he could get into proper condition. These 

 six acres were thoroughly underdrained and sum- 

 mer-fallowed, and they produced more wheat than 

 had been obtained from forty acres the previous 

 harvest ! 



It was evident tliat though the land had been 

 hard nm, and was very foul, yet the soil was 

 naturally good, and needed only good cultivation 

 to make it very productive. The improvement of 

 a three hundred acre farm is not an easy task. It 

 requires no little judgment, perseverance, and skill. 

 Mr. Swan proved hhnself fully equal to the occa- 

 sioQ. With good judgment, great practical skUl, 

 abundant capital, and the most indomitable energy, 

 he vanquished every difficulty with a rapidity which 

 we have never seen equalled. 



TJnderdraining was the first thing to be done. 

 He laid 16,000 tiles the first year. The next year, 

 between the first of August and the first of Decem- 

 ber, he laid over seventeen milea of drains. He 

 reclaimed twenty-four acres of swale land that had 



hitherto produced nothing but aquatic grasses unfit 

 for hay and pasture, and which are now exceed- 

 ingly fertile. The work of improvement has gone 

 bravely on from that time to the present. Until 

 there is not a wet spot on the form. There are 

 over sixty-one miles of underdrains on the farm, or 

 an average of sixty-three rods to the acre. On the 

 higher and wetter portions of the farm they are 

 laid about twenty-seven feet apart, and from two 

 and a half to three feet deep. 



The cost of draining has been about $19 per ac^-e. 

 The drains were dug by contract, at 12^ cents per 

 rod; laying the tiles and filling the drains with 

 plows, cost 3 cents per rod ; average cost of tiles 

 and cartage, 13 cents per rod. Total cost, 28^ cents 

 per rod. This is much cheaper than such work 

 usually costs, where it is done on a small scale and 

 by inexperienced hands. 



That such an expenditure for underdraining has 

 been exceedingly profitable, no one can doubt who 

 knows what the farm was when it came into Mr. 

 Swan's possefesion, and what magnificent crops it 

 now produces. 



While underdraining has formed the basis of Mr. 

 Swan's improvements, it would be erroneous to 

 ascribe his splendid crops to underdraining alone. 

 The land is thoroughly cultivated by means of 

 summer-fallows and hoed crops. It is not over- 

 cropped with cereals ; clover is sown with an 

 unsparing hand; about nine fons of plaster are 

 sown each year on the pastures and meadows; 

 nearly everything is consumed on the farm except 

 wheat, and, in addition to this, a considerable quan- 

 tity of oilcake is fed to cattle and sheep. In this 

 way a great quantity of manure is made — and it is 

 good manure — not rotten straw. 



Let us look into the barn-yard, or rather into one 

 of them, for there are three on the farm. No need 

 to turn up your pantaloons. There is abundance 

 of straw to absorb all the liquid, and the yai'd is a 

 picture of comfort and contentment. What a mag- 

 nificent flock of sheep ! Eighty well-bred Leices- 

 ters, and as fat as good clover hay and eighteen 

 ounces each of oilcake meal per day can make them. 



